Statistics

Playable characters (story mode)

Number of acts

7

Special Stages in Sonic Advance 3 are a series of special levels. To enter the Special Stages, the player must first find all ten Chao hidden in each Zone. The player then needs to find a Special Key in an Act and complete it. This key can be used to activate a Special Spring in their particular Zone Map which will lead into the Special Stage.

Much like in previous Sonic Advance titles, the main objective in the Special Stages is to collect at least a certain number of Rings to stay in the Special Stage, and when successful, the player is awarded a Chaos Emerald. Once all seven Chaos Emeralds have been obtained (by clearing all seven Special Stages) Sonic can enter Nonaggression directly after clearing Altar Emerald.

Contents

Description

Gameplay

Upon entering the Special Stage, the character finds him/herself standing on the wings of the Tornado 2, flying overhead of the Special Stage. The primary objective is to collect to collect enough Rings to pass through two segments of the stage. Failing to collect enough Rings will result in the player getting expelled from the Special Stage. If successful, the player is awarded a Chaos Emerald.

The character is able to move freely around the air on the Tornado and jump, reaching out to the Rings that appear. Small, red, spiky mines serve as an obstacle which takes away the player's rings. Enemies here can also attack the character causing the player to lose Rings but when destroyed, they grant additional Rings. There are also peculiar-looking Rings which grants 5 additional Rings. Throughout the stage, there are small, blue glowing orbs. If the character on the Tornado passes through them, the Tornado will move quickly and any Rings collected are worth double.

Whether the player passes or fails obtaining the Chaos Emerald, the Special Key is gone (as it serves a cost to use the Special Stage), meaning that the player will need to find another key in any stage to attempt the Special Stage again.

Special Stage Mode

Special Stage mode.

After the player collects all of the seven Chaos Emeralds and is currently at the main menu, by inputing the following: Up, R, Down, L, Right, Left; a secret small menu appears titled as "Special Stage Mode". In this mode the player plays through all seven Special Stages consecutively as Sonic and the objective is to collect as many Chaos Emeralds as possible by completing Special Stages. However, once the player fails a Special Stage, the mode ends there and thus the player can exit back into the main menu or retry the entire mode again from the first Special Stage.

Trivia

Special Stages in Sonic Advance 3 are interestingly similar to some of Special Stages from Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble, where the player controls the playable character on Tornado, who pilots the bi-plane in the sky and tries to collect required amount of rings. Special Stages in Sonic Advance 3 are however more challenging due to having more enemy placements than Sonic Triple Trouble.

In the early versions of Sonic Advance 3, the stage does not need to be finished; the players can just exit the Special Stage with the key in their possession. However, in the final release of the game, the act must be completed without dying.